T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 173 – Album Release Edition!

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #173

Here are some things I really like and that you might too!

Special Album Release Edition!!

I’m proud and nervous to announce my first full length album, Roaming Heights, which I released 2 days ago on Bandcamp!  I’m pretty stoked about this release and had a blast writing, playing, and recording these songs.  I feel my mixing, mastering, and production skills have improved a lot since my EP release back in March but realize I still have a long way to go.  I’m not too afraid to just go for it and put it out there as I learn and improve, even though some or many will find these songs amateurish or just plain bad.  I’m good with that, a decade of creating and selling visual art and doing business logos has hardened my skin quite a bit.  Sucking is part of the process of learning, and sucking less every day is the journey of growth.  So please give a listen if you are so inclined and I hope it doesn’t suck!

Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content

Inflation Is the New Fixed Expense in Retirement: 5 Things That Actually Work to Address It (and What Doesn’t) (Kiplingers)  “Inflation will quietly cut your purchasing power in half over a long retirement, so simply trying to “spend less” won’t work. You need to design a financial plan focused on growth, guaranteed income and flexible choices to make sure your savings last.”

Why Taxing the Wealthy is Harder Than it Looks (Of Dollars And Data)  “Though raising taxes on the wealthy should increase overall tax revenue in theory, in practice this isn’t always the case.”  

Video

Oh this is a good one. Watch as this kayak fisherman gets stalked by a massive great white shark off the coast of New Zealand.  Apparently this kid runs a fishing Youtube channel so he was recording with numerous cameras.  The sight of that massive dorsal fin just following him is right out of a movie.  I love how he apologizes numerous times for cussing, haha.  Then he goes on to say “Fuck me!” every time he sees the shark again after thinking maybe it lost interest in him.  I think he composed himself quite well actually given the circumstances and his video now has well over a quarter million views.  

What I’m Grateful For

The amazing friends I met in Spain and France on a trip last month.  I did some bike riding and touring, and forgot how much I missed the food.

Lyrically Speaking

If you want me
You can find me
Left of center
Off of the strip
In the outskirts
In the fringes
In the corner
Out of the grip

From “Left Of Center” by Suzanne Vega

Suzanne Vega is not even remotely obscure to any music fan over the age of 40, but if you’re younger than that I suspect you may have never heard of her.  I consider her a giant in music and definitely one of the most talented female songwriters of the rock era.  I might have a tad of a bias as I used to have a bit of a crush on her when she came to prominence in the 80’s.  Even if you’ve never heard of Vega you’ve likely heard the melody to her most famous song “Tom’s Diner” which was originally an acapella song released in 1987 but then got a remix with electronic backbeats and synths and the latter became much more famous. 

When I did the research for this section I was surprised to see that Vega has only released 10 studio albums since 1985 as it seems I have so much more music from her in my collection.  But she also has 4 acoustic albums and 8 live albums so there’s quite a lot to dive into.  As a funny aside, the first rock band I played in did a cover of her song “Luka” in punk-rock style with power chords and heavy guitars. I actually have a video of me singing it from a party way back in the day that I likely won’t allow anyone to ever see 🙂 

As for the lyrics above, I wrote a post in 2021 about how I’m very different than most people.  The list of things in that post that most people buy, watch, or consume that I’ve never done still stands 5 years later.  I guess all of us who seek financial independence from frugality in this mass-consumer culture are different or “left of center” in some way.  I enjoy being off the strip, in the outskirts, and on the fringes.  And I enjoy the freedom it has bought me 🙂

Miscellaneous

Scientists say this common sweetener may be quietly rewiring your metabolism – “Scientists warn that fructose may act less like a simple sugar — and more like a hidden metabolic trigger for obesity and chronic disease.

‘Robo-Rescuers’ Are Here: How Seattle Mountain Rescue Is Leveraging Exoskeletons to Save Lives – “Seattle Mountain Rescue is integrating exoskeletons. The results have been phenomenal.”

Why play brings us pleasure – “New research suggests fun isn’t a distraction from learning — it’s the brain’s way of rewarding us for navigating uncertainty, discovering patterns, and staying mentally alive.“

**Note To My Readers – I sometimes get complaints about ads on my blog (too many).  I’m kind of astonished that anyone browses the internet without an ad-blocker.  I haven’t seen ads in over a decade, and you shouldn’t either.  Please use an ad blocker, your life will improve 500%